Chinghiz Aitmatov

In a remote Kyrgyz village, Dzhamilya follows her parents' orders when she marries a man without loving him. Then World War II breaks out and her new husband has to leave the village. While being alone, Dzhamiliya meets the returning soldier Daniyar and falls in love with him instead. Years later, their young friend Seid reminisces about the couple.

In this infinite space, we currently know of only one planet where life exists. We know of only one history of civilization. And we know of only one type of intelligence—that of humans on Earth. Since time immemorial, the question of whether there is anyone else out there in the boundless reaches of space has remained a mystery. The film features scientists involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, as well as renowned writers Arkady Strugatsky and Chingiz Aitmatov.

Just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, perestroika gave Chinghiz Aitmatov the opportunity to reflect on the goals and ideals of socialism and how it itself had denied them. In this essayistic film, starting with his personal life story (his father was shot as an enemy of the state, he himself was a highly respected student and artist in the Soviet Union) and the history of the Kyrgyz people (bearers of a vibrant and distinctive culture destroyed by socialism), he eventually arrives at big questions about the goal of human progress and the fate of humanity in the 21st century. "What will life be like for people in the 21st century?" he asks, not least in view of looming ecological catastrophes, and answers: That is the sole responsibility of humanity. Long difficult to find, the film has now been uploaded to YouTube in a restored 4K version by Kyrgyzfilm.

The story of Tanabai the blacksmith, father of three children, who upon his return from war became a herdsman, and his tragic love for the soldier’s widow Byubyudzhan. The lyrical poem has an additional storyline concerning the horse Gyulsary and his master Tanabai.

In the 1940s, young Kirghiz boy falls hopelessly for Jamilla, but their love has no future.

In post-Civil War 1923, a young Red Army veteran is sent to the mountainous Kirghiz region of Kyrgyzstan to establish the first school. The former soldier becomes a teacher, bringing Leninist doctrine to the remote Moslem area where elders forbade children to attend school. He falls in love with one of his students, but the young woman is sold by her father to a wealthy chieftain.

Ilyas loves driving through difficult mountain routes. It is here, in the mountains, that he meets Asel, falling in love at first sight. Since she is betrothed to another, the two decide to elope.

Film adaptation of the Kyrgyz folk legend of Raimaly-aga, based on Chingiz Aitmatov's interpretation from his “The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years.”

During the second world war two friends work at a remote railway station in the steppes. When one dies the other's request to bury him according to Islamic rituals in a sacred place is denied by the Soviet authorities, who use that place for rocket testing.

Young Daniyar drives his car along the mountain roads of the Tien Shan. One day, returning from a trip, he meets Asel. This encounter marks the beginning of a great love story for them. Daniyar breaks off his relationship with his former girlfriend, the beautiful Raihan, and marries Asel. But one day, his long-forgotten relationship with Raihan is rekindled. Asel, upon learning of her husband's infidelity, leaves him. Meanwhile, wanting to increase the number of trips and reduce travel time, Daniyar decides to drive through the pass with a trailer, but gets into an accident on the pass, the consequences of which are exacerbated by his co-worker Sadyk...

To avoid severe punishment for desertion, a man hides in the mountains near his native village.

In a remote Kyrgyz village, Dzhamilya follows her parents' orders when she marries a man without loving him. Then World War II breaks out and her new husband has to leave the village. While being alone, Dzhamiliya meets the returning soldier Daniyar and falls in love with him instead. Years later, their young friend Seid reminisces about the couple.

A few former pupils of primary school teacher Aishi-Aly meet again for a party on the top of the sacred mountain that dominates their village. But what was supposed to be a joyful party turns into a nightmare...

In this heavyhanded political allegory, set in the plains and mountains of Central Asia, a tribe of people led by the fanatical Mavrut (Vladimir Msrian) wanders about in the most desolate parts of this already desolate region in search of a mythical "Land of Happiness." Their quest is hampered by the fact that they must all live a life which is extremely ascetic. One tribeswoman expresses a desire to have a child, but is rebuked by being reminded that she has vowed never to have worldly ties that would distract her from the quest. When she has a child anyway, she and her lover are made to pay for this crime in a horrific way. Despite that, the child becomes a kind of holy mascot for the group, touted by the leader as a kind of savior. They are distressed when the child goes missing one day, only to appear mysteriously on the opposite side of the rapids of a river, beckoning to them.

Just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, perestroika gave Chinghiz Aitmatov the opportunity to reflect on the goals and ideals of socialism and how it itself had denied them. In this essayistic film, starting with his personal life story (his father was shot as an enemy of the state, he himself was a highly respected student and artist in the Soviet Union) and the history of the Kyrgyz people (bearers of a vibrant and distinctive culture destroyed by socialism), he eventually arrives at big questions about the goal of human progress and the fate of humanity in the 21st century. "What will life be like for people in the 21st century?" he asks, not least in view of looming ecological catastrophes, and answers: That is the sole responsibility of humanity. Long difficult to find, the film has now been uploaded to YouTube in a restored 4K version by Kyrgyzfilm.